Brandon Locher's Creative Process

Nearly a year ago, we shared the incredible illustration work of Brandon Locher. It’s easy to recognize a Locher piece, as his distinct style is intricate, colorless and evolutionary of his Mazes to the Motherlode series. Locher draws for ten hours straight, going into a meditative disciplined state. In his own words:

Our journey must be to awaken here and now. To be fully alive, we must be fully present. Hopefully embedded within these illustrations lies a personal topographic blueprint for the vision and self creation of even smaller moons, larger galaxies, and realized worlds. I became very meditative while making these pieces. My self-focused mantra was making this creative process completely effortless.

Here is one of his newest works – a 20″ x 20″ illustration which was made exclusively for The Ghostly Store. It’s a tremendous tangle of mono-patch chords, an appropriate collaboration for an electronic music based label. Click here to buy and learn more.

July 6, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Expressive Body Script

There’s been a lot of talk about graffiti finding it’s way into high fashion. Miuccia Prada ushered in the conversation last summer with her About Face runway presentation. The latest examples have similarities in their raw essence, but take a bold, expressive typographic turn. We have Evisu, Die Antwood, Comme des Garcons and Dior Homme all using the body or page as a canvas for expressive thought.

All of these pieces feel connected in some way to the style and vibe of Shantell Martin’s illustrations. Her stream-of-contiousness drawings have been an influential style for a while now, and a stark contrast to the crisp colorful characters and collage work from Fall.

May 20, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Patterns & Branding in 2014

Successful branding almost always weaves in a notable texture to accompany the logo. It sets a subconscious and relatable vibe. Here are a few fun collaborations, product lines and branding exercises of note. Enjoy!

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1. Neon Trees’ pattern-tastic music video, Sleeping with a Friend.

2. When Missoni met Converse and they made beautiful kicks together.

3. Piol’s made to measure banner tanagrams.

4. The Phillips Gallery through the lens of camo & instagram.

5. Safari Sundays’ shape shifting brand video.

6. Shoes and body paint with Janine Rewell x Minna Parikka.

7. Buried in Blackberry email. Using repetition as messaging.

8. Bugaboo taps Warhol for their strollers.

9. Polkka Jam expands to calendars, bedding, table wear and paper goods.

10. Truck Club’s ingenious patterned suitcase boxes.

December 24, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Gwen Stefani x Pop Electric

I got an email from my husband last night saying, “If Pattern Pulp directed a video, there’s a good chance you would have done this.” He’s a good one, sending inspiration whenever it comes along…

So, what do we think? This video’s certainly interesting, especially in the overall context of references. Gwen Stefani’s always been sharp and this release, like ones of the past, is a cool combination of creative and commercial efforts.

From a visual standpoint, Baby Don’t Lie is a texture mash up within a computer wonderland. Striped pyramid planes bleed into houndstooth triangles, all while Gwen struts down her signature punk yellow path in variations of mismatched polka dots.

This highly processed reel feels very Japanese or even a bit K-POP, which makes sense since she just launched her Harajuku Lovers “Pop Electric” fragrance line last week. Always polished, in sync and business minded, Gwen’s brand encompasses a laser-like focus. Curious to hear your thoughts- do you think this is more Eastern or Western friendly…or both?

October 23, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Hannah Waldron's Woven Art

When I see a project like this, my jaw drops. It’s one thing to design an intricate layout in illustrator or photoshop where your planes are 2D and your toolset is smooth and mathematical. It’s another thing to translate that work of art into a 3D woven masterpiece. Behold, Hanna Waldron’s latest creative endeavor, Cloud in Hand.

Waldron has been studying textiles for the past two years in Sweden, at Konstfack, and has recently presented her Master’s project, a woven poem…bringing Patti Smith’s The Coral Sea to life.

My Master’s project, an intricate weaving based on the poem The Coral Sea by Patti Smith, is a tapestry for the present. My design celebrates Smith’s luminous crafting of words to convey the physical world and aims to translate the tactile qualities of the poem into the tactile medium of weaving.

I believe that there is a need now in contemporary society for greater material knowledge. This work aims to put value into making and investigate interdisciplinary approaches to sharing material knowledge.

June 13, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik

Duvelleroy x Tigersushifurs x Hand Fan

This collaboration’s a fun one- it merges old world artistry and a hint of stuffiness with a fresh vision of French music and design. Duvelle Roy, a couture fan design institution has teamed up with the young guns at Tigersushifurs to create this playful line of psychedelic hand fans. Tigersushifurs is the fashion brand behind the electro label founded by Joakim Bouaziz. It’s run by Lauren and Audrey, two sisters who have built the line into a preppy-geek unisex collection. You can purchase on either website, or at Colette.com

May 21, 2014 | By: Shayna Kulik